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Online Poker Articles - Online Poker IndexdeThu, 21 Mar 2019 20:11:42 +0000Poker ArticlesWhat To Expect Playing Poker At The CasinoWhen you walk into a casino to play poker, you are often asked to sign in at the front desk. The host will ask which poker game you are interested in. If the casino needs to see your ID, your ID will be checked before you can enter the casino itself. The host will check to see if any openings are available in the poker game you are interested in. If there are no openings, you may have to wait until you are called.

If an opening is available, you will be seated right away at a poker table. Before sitting, you will need to purchase your chips at the cashier counter to take with you to the table. Once you are seated, you will not be able to buy more chips at most casinos, so make sure you buy enough. If you run short of chips during a game, you will have to announce “all in” which means that you will only be eligible to win the pot up to that point. Any further bets will be placed in a side pot, which you will not be able to win, no matter how good your hand is. Some casinos ask that you be seated first and then purchase your chips. In some casinos, dealers will sell you the chips while in other casinos the host may bring you the chips you order.

The dealer will announce the rules before the game begins. In some casino poker rooms, you need to post a bet right away to play or you need to pay a fee to begin play. Some casinos will let you watch a round or two without taking part. This can be a useful way to see what sorts of players you will be playing against and the style of game being played. This can also be a chance to notice any “tells” in any of the players that can give you a clue as to how the players react to good or bad hands.

Once you are playing, you need to observe the rules of the casino. Most casinos will not allow you to play if you do not follow basic etiquette rules. For example, you are expected to wait your turn. In some casinos, there is a time limit for each player, so you have to make your decision within a specific time frame. Most casinos do not allow swearing. Plus, at almost all casinos you are expected to place your bet on the table in front of you rather than throw it into the pot. When it is your turn, you need to clearly and immediately announce your intention to raise a bet, if that is what you will be doing. If you place your chips down to match a bet and then move to add to the bet, this is known as a “string bet” which is not allowed by most casinos. If you need to brush up on rules and etiquette, ask the dealer or host well before the game. They will be happy to tell you everything you need to know.

As you play, be sure to remain courteous. If you lose a game, thank the dealer and other players. If you win, again thank the dealer and other players. If you win a medium-sized or larger pot, tip the dealer from the pot. Take the chips to cashier or counter to get your money.

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http://www.online-poker-index.com/article-item-75Mon, 01 Mar 2010 13:26:57 +0000Poker ArticlesWhat Do These Tell-Tale Poker Phrases Tell You?Poker has a language all its own. For someone who doesnt play, “pokerise” can actually seem like a strange jargon, but players tend to use the same phrases again and again.

It is important for players to learn the most common poker terminology. This is not only so that they wont give the impression of being “fish” but also because you can draw clues from fellow players according to the things that they say. If you cant understand what people are saying at the table then you could easily miss out on an easy “tell.” By learning the following phrases, you will not only be able to understand your fellow players, you will learn important clues about them as well:

“You`ve got to know when to hold `em, know when to fold `em.”
This line from a famous Kenny Rogers song may be sage advice in a way - after all, in any game of poker, deciding when to bet or when to fold is key - but this phrase is often a throw-away phrase by people who are not seasoned poker players. To put it another way, few experienced poker players use this phrase at the poker table.

“I`d rather be lucky than good.”
This phrase is often used by players who play more hands than advisable. The general idea here is that poker is a game of luck and by holding in for long enough they will get a lucky “break” that will let them win. This phrase is almost always a tell of an inexperienced player who tends to play weak hands. Any good poker player avoids saying this because he or she knows that poker is a game of skill in which luck only plays a part. In fact, good poker players know that one of the best skills a poker player can learn is to decide when to fold and when to bet.

“If you dont know who the fish at the poker table is, then the fish is you.”
Poker players use the term “fish” to refer to inexperienced poker players who make poor choices at the poker table and who are bad at reading other players. Good poker players often like to see fish at a table, because it is often quite easy for a decent player to make money from a fish at the table. Of course, at most poker tables, there is one poker player who is less experienced than the rest. This phrase suggests that if you cannot tell the good players from the less seasoned at a table, then you are likely the fish. In that case, you may wish to bow out of the game before you lose money to more experienced players.

“Thats a bad beat.”
A “bad beat” refers to a loss where a player loses despite being mathematically likely to win. If you have a very high hand, for example, but someone gets a rare higher hand, then that is a “bad beat.” Bad beats are part of the risk of poker and are what make the game so exciting and unpredictable. They happen to every player eventually, regardless of skill.

“We need a live one.”
This phrase is a request for a new fish or weak player at the poker table. It is usually said in a joking but arrogant way (because the person saying it is assuming or stating that he/she is not the fish).

“What a tight player.”
A tight player can be used to describe someone who plays conservatively and even timidly. In many cases, it can be a compliment. When used in a disparaging or insulting way, it means that a player is too conservative and uptight while playing.

“Read ‘em and weep.”
This phrase is usually used by a player who is winning a showdown. It is basically a way to show off and emphasize a win over others.

“Trust everyone, but cut the cards.”
This phrase means that you should trust noone and shuffle or cut the cards to prevent cheating.

“a single belly buster.”
This phrase means a draw to an inside straight.

“Im drawing to a double belly buster.”
This phrase means drawing to two different straight, such as a hand of cards that includes a 2, a 3, and a 4 followed by a 9 and a 10.

“Any two will do for me.”
This phrase refers to the idea that a pair can hypothetically win in some poker games, such as Texas Hold-em, even though they rarely do. Often, this phrase is used by a player who justifies this phrase to play weak opening hands. Experienced poker players are unlikely to make statements like this - they know that solid hands and strong opening hands matter a great deal in poker.

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http://www.online-poker-index.com/article-item-74Fri, 02 Apr 2010 12:18:38 +0000Poker ArticlesValue-Based BettingDeciding whether to bet or not is easy in cases when your hand is a clear-cut win or lose. However, what if you have cards that could swing both ways? Do you withdraw your bid for the pot or do you stay in the hand?

This is where “value-based” betting comes in. A hand that can swing both ways must be played correctly, if played at all. There are a number of aspects that a player must take into consideration at this critical juncture in the game. The following are just a couple of pointers with regards to value-based betting:

The Dilemma
In cases where your cards can either win or lose, you have a tough decision to make. To help you make a decision, you should weigh the odds of winning against the odds of losing. Thereafter, you will either bet or fold.

In such a situation, you use your judgment in making your decision. Your cards are not going to make the decision for you since theyre as of yet undefined. They can actually turn to a monster hand later on if you stick till the river, but then again, they may not. Its absolutely your call whether you will wait and pay more chips to find out if you have a winning hand, or if youre going to avoid potentially large losses by giving the hand up early on.

Value Betting
Value betting is following the wait-and-see strategy; that is, it is betting and continuing to play and play on the hopes that your cards will actually win. However, value betting should only be done when the chance of forming a winning hand exceeds that of ending up with a losing hand.

Thus, value betting requires the expertise to spot potential winners. Strong hands are easy to spot for theyre as glaringly apparent as the neon sign of a country roadside inn. However, cards that can win are harder to determine. Particularly, it requires a poker player to be a proficient odds scholar.

Furthermore, value betting takes a certain kind of courage. After all, the longer you remain in the game, the greater the amount of money you can potentially lose. Simply put, it is very risky to play a hand that youre not even sure will win.

However, value betting distinguishes the skilled poker players from novices. Skilled players do not wait for the big pot. They use value betting to pick up small earnings and risk their chips for marginal wins. They do not wait for that big pot and they do not play only with sure hands.

Value Betting Application
You should learn to bet even with marginal hands, preferably after you have had some well-deserved wins. Your opponents are likely to be reluctant to play against a consistently good player.

Similarly, you should learn to distinguish when you are being had; that is, you must be able to determine who is betting on marginal hands so that you can call and beat them at their own game. Without this ability to tell who is value betting, you will lose all of your chips in no time.

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http://www.online-poker-index.com/article-item-73Sun, 24 Jan 2010 11:56:24 +0000Poker ArticlesUnderstanding Poker Tournament PlayA poker tournament is simply an event where the players are trying to compete for a prize pool. The players pay for chips and pay an entry fee in some cases to play in the tournament. Each player plays until they decide to leave the tournament or have no money to continue. At the end of the game, the winners divide the winnings according to the rules of the poker game being played and “cash in” their chips, or get the value of their chips back in money.

The term "ring game" is often used as the opposite of a tournament. Sometimes called a "live game" this game takes place at one table. Players who win in a ring game do not go on to play the winners from other tables. The ring games is pretty self-contained. In ring games, players can come to the table or go as they please, buying into games and cashing out as their fancy strikes them. If you are just starting out at poker, ring games with low stakes and betting limits are often the safest choice - they are most likely to attract other players at your level.

Many poker games - whether played professionally, in a casino, or in homes - are played tournament style. However, it is worthwhile to know that other styles exist. Some players play for points rather than money or chips, for example. Many people who play poker decide on tournament style play, even if they only use pennies and nickels to play. However, there are lost of reasons to choose not to play tournament poker. In some places, gambling, even in a private home, is illegal, so that tournament style play cannot take place. In other cases, people may have a problem with gambling or may wish to include minors in their card games without causing problems. In these cases, playing for points or even for nothing at all can be a good idea.

Poker tournaments vary themselves in rules and customs. In many types of tournament-style play, players are not allowed to buy more chips once they have begun playing. This is standard in casinos, for example. In other tournaments, players are allowed rebuys, or the chance to buy more chips when they run out. Some poker tournaments build in add-on times, a set time in the game when all players can buy more chips for the game.

In most tournament-style poker games, the game continues until only one poker player wins. In many cases, the winner takes the whole pot. In some styles of tournament, several games are played at once, and the winners of each game are allowed to keep their pots or compete with the winners of other games for a chance at a much larger pot.

Tournament play, especially at the professional level, creates many interesting off-shoots. One of these is the idea of the “satellite.” A ‘satellite” is a poker tournament where the prize is entrance to a larger tournament. Often, in a satellite, the cost of entry is much less than the cost of entry into a larger tournament. Winners of the satellite effectively buy their way into the larger, more prestigious, and more expensive tournaments on the strength of their win.

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http://www.online-poker-index.com/article-item-72Thu, 14 Jan 2010 11:44:13 +0000Poker ArticlesTo Bluff or Not to BluffOne of the most important weapons in a no limit hold'em player's arsenal is his ability to bluff. Online or offline, knowing when and how to bluff is sure to keep you ahead of your opponents in the short run and in the long run.

There are essentially two types of bluffs — a pure bluff and a semi-bluff. The difference between the two is nothing more than a question of what cards you are holding. A pure bluff is a bluff done when you have essentially no hand, and no chance to win the pot unless your opponent folds. A semi-bluff on the other hand, is made in a few situations. The first situation in which a bluff is considered a "semi-bluff" is a drawing situation. You may be holding four to a flush or four to a straight on the flop or after the turn and you decide to take the lead in the betting, raising your opponents. This is a semi-bluff because although you have no hand yet, there is a reasonable chance that you will make a strong hand when all five community cards are showing. The second situation in which a bluff is considered a "semi-bluff" is when you are holding a mediocre hand... mid pair for example. You are very unlikely to win the hand if you check or call, so you make a large bet in order to attempt to drive your opponents out of the table.

The difference between most good no limit hold'em players and most weak players lies in their ability to bluff. Intelligent, well rounded players are able to spot a good bluffing opportunity when it arises, while also knowing when bluffing is the last thing they should do.

Scare cards, I believe, are one of the most important concepts in the realm of pure bluffing, especially in online no limit hold'em. By a "scare card," I mean a card that falls on board that makes a flush possible, or a straight possible, or perhaps even a higher pair possible. For example... let's say the flop comes (Qs-4s-Td). You are holding KT, a pair of tens. You open with a small bet and your opponent raises. Well you are out of position but you have a hand and an overcard, so you simply call his raise (Simply calling the raise may offput your opponent) Let's say for example that the turn comes Jc. This card makes a straight possible, but it is not terribly obvious. You check into the aggressor, who leads with another bet. You smooth call, because not only do you have a pair, but you have an 8 out straight draw as well. In this situation, the river is likely to be a scare card for your opponent. Judging by the aggressor's actions, he is betting on a high pair. not on a straight or flush draw. And in his mind, he is thinking that you are calling on a draw, not with a made, albeit weak, hand. With two spades out on board, and 3 to a straight, your opponent may fear the river, even with a hand as strong as top two pairs. The river can come up a variety of cards, and still give you ample reason to take a stab at the pot. For example... if a spade falls, it will be worth your while to lay down a relatively large bet, and bluff the flush, in an attempt to make your opponent lay down his hand. If he was perceptive enough to your betting patterns, he may very well have put you on calling out a flush draw. As an active player and an effective bluffer, you should always keep an eye out for these kinds of opportunities when you are involved in a hand with few opponents. Often times they will be very reluctant to call a large bet without a straight, flush, or full house (if a pair is on board) when scare cards show up.

Position bluffs are also typically effective forms of pure-bluffs, but you must be extremely careful not to over-use this type of bluff, as most players will pick up on it quickly and call you down with mediocre hands in the future. By a position bluff, I am referring to a bet with no hand or draw in order to take down a pot, when you are last to act and all players have checked to you. Usually a moderate sized bet will take down the pot, however, you must be careful to observe which kinds of players are involved in the hand in front of you. Specifically, are these opponents likely to check-raise? The less often you see your opponents check-raise, the more often you can feel confident in bluffing at the pot in last position when everyone involved has checked to you.

Small pots are typically your safest bet when it comes to bluffing. Most players will feel committed to a larger pot, and will call a moderate sized bet with a hand of medium strength if there are sufficient pot odds to do so. This is why you should avoid making pure-bluffs at large pots. Bet when you are involved in a hand and it appears that the flop is no help to anybody. If there are two or three limpers in the hand and the flop comes all rags (meaningless low cards) of different suits, there is a very good chance that a moderately sized bet will take down the pot. In fact, there is an extremely good chance that your bluff will be effective. The key to hold'em is winning a large amount of small pots, and remaining the aggressor. If you win 75% of the small pots you bluff at, you will still come out ahead if you are called down or re-raised the other 25% of the time and are forced to muck.

Another ample opportunity for bluffing arises when the flop comes with a pair on board and there are few opponents in the hand. The fact is, more often than not, the first player to bet at a paired flop willl take down the pot. Obviously this is another tactic you have to avoid over-using, since perceptive opponents will learn to call you down or re-raise, but you should always keep in mind that with such a flop, your opponents are more likely to fold to the first reasonably sized bet, if they have not made at least two pairs. The reason? Well, with a pair on board, that means there is a very limited chance that your opponent has a "made" hand. In reality, there would only be 5 cards in the deck he could be holding (save for a pocket pair) that would give him a made hand. Additionally, with the presence of a pair on the flop (2 of the 3 cards are of the same rank) your opponent is less likely to be holding any kind of draw, and if he is holding a draw, it is not as valuable as it would be due to the possibility of a full house.

Semi-bluffing is the act of betting aggressively with a drawing hand. This can be a very effective part of your game, and for many players it is a regular component of their betting patterns. This is often effective for a variety of reasons. First, you are bluffing with an escape hatch. You may have four to a straight or four to a flush, but you have a decent amount of outs (cards) that will give you a very strong hand. Now in analyzing the results of a semi-bluff, essentially three things can happen. You can bet aggressively with your draw and everyone will fold with weak/medium-strength hands. This is obviously one of your desired outcomes, since you win the pot. On the other hand, you can bet aggressively, and people will call you down with reasonably strong hands, such as top pair, ace kicker, and you will miss your draw and have absolutely nothing. Not so good. However, based on your evaluation of your opponents' strengths and which types of players they are, you can take a stab at the pot on the river with nothing in a pure-bluff attempt. Many times this is also effective. You may even bet your draw aggressively and then catch one of your outs on the turn or river, making you a very strong hand, in which you are very likely to win the pot. Obviously this is another great outcome, and thanks to your aggressive play, the pot you will win is pretty hefty.

As you can see, semi-bluffing can be very profitable, but it goes without saying that it can dig you a hole, perhaps more so than pure bluffing. Regardless, it is a valuable tool that you should work to improve and include in your no limit hold'em arsenal. One important side-note to keep your semi-bluffing to a reasonable and profitable level: do not over-do it. Essentially, do not continue to bet aggressively into calling opponents unless you have "outs" that will make you a strong hand. Keep that simple rule in mind, and you should find semi-bluffing a valuable tactic in no limit hold'em.

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http://www.online-poker-index.com/article-item-71Mon, 28 Dec 2009 11:32:57 +0000Poker ArticlesThe Deciding Phases: The Turn and the RiverThe turn and the river are the make it or break it phases in a hand of poker. At this point in the game, your bets may have already cost you a lot of your chips so youd better make it work. Though you can still fold at these stages, youd have invested quite a bit into the pot so its just natural to want to win the pot than give it up.

It is critical at this point in the hand to have a set strategy and play it out to the end without hesitation. The following are things that a player should definitely considering while entering these last two phases in a hand of poker. Playing these phases correctly can make the difference between poker pain and poker

The Turn Phase
Before the turn and after the flop, you need to have a definite game plan. If youre planning to bluff other players into folding, then youd better come on strong by continuously betting and raising. This would make your opponents think that the flop has given you a great combination.

Raising the bets also increases the cost of remaining in the hand. This is especially useful strategy against those who have drawing hands and are hoping for an out at the turn. By raising constantly, you will make the pot odds less favorable for your adversaries; this may make them fold and leave you the pot before the showdown.

After the turn, check your cards for the wisdom of staying on in the game. Yes, you would lose your bets so far, but if you continue playing with a marginal hand that the turn did not improve, you would lose even more.

To determine your chances for getting the card you want at the river, calculate your drawing odds.

The River Phase
Normally, reaching this phase takes a lot of guts. People who reach the river usually have very good cards or big drawing cards. People who reach this stage with marginal hands are either very stupid or very good.

If you got your break and you have great cards that you think no other remaining player can beat, milk it for every cent its worth. Continue raising until your opponents drop or call your bets. If aggressive play doesnt scare away your opponents, you should ask yourself whether they have better cards or whether they think youre bluffing. In that case, let them call so you can have the showdown and prove that you truly have a great hand.

If you have a big drawing hand that fails to materialize by the river, it is generally advisable to fold. However, if you think you can bluff the remaining players into folding, then you should do continue raising madly.

Finally, if you have marginal hands at this point in the hand, it is even more advisable to fold before the showdown so that your opponents wouldnt see what you were stupid enough to fight for. However, if your object is to let your opponents catch you bluffing so you can string them on later with a monster hand, then you should join the showdown by checking and calling.

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http://www.online-poker-index.com/article-item-70Mon, 03 May 2010 10:18:49 +0000Poker ArticlesBlind Plays
First, you have to pay the house the rake. Second, you also have to put in your share of the blinds. The moment you dont have enough chips to pay for the rake and the blinds, you know youre done. You may just have enough left over to order a drink and give the waitress a $1 tip, but certainly not enough to continue playing in a Texas Holdem game.

The Blind Strategy
You need to spring for the big blinds more than once every hour. Say the big blind is $20 - you have to have this amount of money when its your turn to post the blinds, or youre out. What should you do so you could stay in the game and even win the game? You must focus on the pots, yes, but you must steal as many blinds as you can. That is, you should make it very difficult for other players to acquire the blinds that you have posted, yet you should be absolutely vicious in snatching your opponents blinds from them.

The Blind Strategy in Detail
You can protect your blinds by not giving up too easily. This is not to say that you should recklessly continue playing with a dead hand just because you dont want to give away your blind. What Im trying to say is that you should analyze the situation and find out if your hand is truly and realistically beat or if you have a chance of making your opponent fold and getting your blind bet back.

For instance, if you have an unsuited King and a Jack and your opponents happen to be extremely cautious players who will fold if you raise them even if theyre holding an unsuited Ace and Queen, you should wait to see the flop.

At this point, you have a lot to lose if you immediately give up whereas you stand to gain back your blind if you manage to scare your opponents off the pot. Furthermore, unsuited KJ pre-flop is a pretty decent starting hand.

Now, if its not your blind and you have the same card, you may still wait for the flop but only if you have a drawing hand, which is all an unsuited KJ combo is.

If the flop doesnt show much promise, youd better cut your losses and wait for another turn if you think that other players have it better than you do.

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http://www.online-poker-index.com/article-item-69Tue, 05 Jan 2010 11:06:52 +0000Poker ArticlesTexas Hold'em Do’s and Don’tsTexas Hold-em is now one of the most popular games played in casinos. However, although the rules of the game are not complicated, many beginner poker players who have mainly played 5-card draw or other poker games find themselves losing Texas Hold-Em, even when using their best poker strategies. Thats because Texas Hold-Em requires specific strategies and plays.

If you want to improve the chances of winning your next Texas Holdem game, consider these easy-to-remember dos and donts:

Do play your position - it counts for a lot in Texas Holdem. If you are in an early betting position, do make sure that you only play very good hands that will be able to take multiple raises. If you are in a late betting position at the poker table you can play medium strong hands.

Dont play weak hands or even medium hands too often. In most games, Texas Holdem, becomes a high-card game. That means that lower value hands simply dont stand the same good chance they stand in 5-card draw, for example.

Do play good hands aggressively. If you have a good chance of winning with a strong hand, it is to your best advantage to get rid of as many players as possible through raises and bluffing. If you cant get at least some players to fold, then your chances of winning are greatly reduced.

Dont be afraid to fold, especially if you have early or late betting decisions. Because of the way the game is played, this poker game rarely comes down to a high card win. Usually, at least one player has a genuinely strong hand, and if you are playing several people, odds are good that someone has a very strong hand indeed. In most cases and games, low cards and unconnected medium cards are a weak hand that you should seriously consider folding. This is especially true since Texas Hold-Em pots can get quite big quickly, meaning that you can lose a lot of money unless you bluff supremely well and are playing with very timid players.

Do sometimes take a chance and dont fold on a medium or weak hand, especially if you wont lose too much money by doing so. This will ensure that your game is not predictable and can even give you a chance to make a steal.

Dont move from other poker games to Texas Holdem with no practice. If you have been playing only 5-card draw poker with your friends, you do not really have the skills you need to play Texas Holdem with very good players or in a casino. You will simply end up losing. Before playing a game of Texas Holdem, do at least try playing a free online game at an online casino to learn how the game is played.

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http://www.online-poker-index.com/article-item-68Tue, 08 Dec 2009 15:32:19 +0000Poker ArticlesBad Calls In Short-Handed Poker PlayEach poker derivation enjoys its own strategies and approaches. Moreover, within each different derivation there are different strategies employed at different Limits as well as different table sizes.

Its rather surprising, but many sufficiently skilled players do fall apart in short-handed play. Its almost as if they are unable to adjust their strategy to playing with fewer people and more frequent blinds. The following are some common mistakes that youd do well to avoid when playing at short-handed games.

Playing Dog in the Manger
Its natural to think that the blinds you have posted are your money (for they are). It is also natural to try to defend your blinds. After all, the faster turnaround means youre soon going to be short-stacked if you dont try to defend your blind bets. However, its not natural to defend your blinds to the exclusion of common sense.

Lets say youre the big blind and your hole cards are 72, offsuit. Much as you would like to defend the blinds you have posted, its probably a lost cause with such cards. If you persist in defending your blinds, you may lose more than your blind bet. Defending your blinds is bound to cost you extra bets for you would have to raise and re-raise to try and scare other players off.

Strategists know theres a time to take a stand and time to pack up and wait for the next opportunity. There is no rule in poker that says you have to defend blindly – so use your head. You cant get out of placing a bet because youre in the blind position; but you dont need to become a victim of your ill-advised doggedness.

Playing Suited Connectors
Playing suited connectors is fine in a regular game, if youre the button, or if youre the blind. However, if youre out of position and holding small suited connectors in short-handed game, the best option for you would be to fold rather than hope that the cards will go your way.

Slowplaying a Big Pair from a Late Position
Youve got the button and were handed a pair of pocket aces. The correct play here will be to raise and steal the blinds – but you simply call, trying to look innocent and hoping that the pot will increase on the flop, turn and river.

This might work if the game is full; short-handed, however, such a move will be a signal that youve got a good hand and that the others better be wary. Attrition is the name of the game in poker, especially tournament play - keep in mind that a short-handed game means the remaining players are good enough to have survived; they would be good enough to know that limping when youre on the button may well mean that youve got high cards in your pocket – and theyll avoid playing unless theyre on tilt and feeling suicidal.

The best move would be to go ahead and steal the blinds. This may not be as emotionally satisfying but the end result is the same; you still get the chips.

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http://www.online-poker-index.com/article-item-67Tue, 08 Dec 2009 15:07:42 +0000Poker ArticlesPoker Terms You Should LearnIf you are going to be playing poker for fun or money, you will feel much more comfortable in the game if you can use the right language. Poker uses words and phrases all of its own and learning these basic terms can make your poker play much more enjoyable.

Truth be told, all games will develop their own vocabulary. The fact that poker seems to draw an interesting collection of characters and that often great sums of money are involved has caused poker to develop a very rich and entertaining vocabulary.

The following is a list of some of the more common poker terminologies:

Action: Action refers to the amount of money being bet on a poker game.

Aggressive play: Aggressive players start betting high and stay in, continuing to bet high, trying to get other players to give up early.

Betting on a tilt: Betting on a tilt refers to betting based on emotions, not on your actual chances of winning. This is something you will want to avoid if you want to play poker well.

Bluffing: Bluffing means acting as though you have a better hand than you have. This is done by raising bets or meeting bets even when your hand is not great. The object of bluffing is to get others to fold, leaving you holding the (only) winning hand.

Board Cards: Bards cards are the cards that are in the middle of the poker table. They are shared by all players.

Conservative play: Conservative poker players tend to bet only the minimum and fold quickly if they have low cards. This help ensure that they do not lose a lot of money but can also prevent them from winning larger pots. When a conservative players gets a good hand and starts betting above the minimum many players see it as a sign that they have a good hand and quickly abandon the game.

Limit Poker: Limits poker is a poker game with fixed bets. Usually, in a limit poker game, two numbers are given as limits. These two numbers refer to the different rounds. For example, In a $1_2 limit poker game, in the first two rounds all bets and raises are one dollar. In the last two rounds they are two dollars.

Longhand: Longhand poker refers to a poker game with at least seven people.

Outs: Outs refer to the number of cards in the deck that can possibly better your hand. For example, if you need a queen or nine to complete your hand, then you have a total of 8 outs, because there are 4 queens and 4 nines in a pack of cards.

Position: Position refers to where you are seated at the poker table. Position often determines how well you can play a game. The dealer always has the best position at a poker table because the dealer bets last. This means that the dealer has the chance to see other players reactions and watch their strategy before betting, giving better odds of an informed play. The person just left of the dealer has the worst position because he or she must bet or play first and so has the least information before placing a bet or making a move.

Pot: The pot refers to the amount of money being anted or betted in a game.

Shorthand: Shorthand is a poker game with six people or fewer.

Tell: A “tell” is a sign or clue of what kind of hand a player hand. No poker player wants others to know what their “tell” is, but almost every player has one. Without realizing it, a player may tap their toes when they have a good hand or frown if they have a bad one. Where possible, you want to stay alert for other players tells while trying not to give away any of your own.

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http://www.online-poker-index.com/article-item-66Wed, 20 Jan 2010 13:49:50 +0000Poker ArticlesCommon Poker StrategiesWhile some may believe that poker is a game of luck, this couldnt be any further from the truth. Poker is a game of probability, a game of strategy and a game of attitude.

Of course, there is a certain degree of luck involved in poker. Regardless of a players ability, if they were lucky enough to be dealt the “nuts” on every hand then no amount of skill or attitude could defeat them. Unfortunately, hoping for the “nuts” on each and every hand is not what one would call a productive strategy. The following is a list of some of the more common poker strategies utilized today:

The Gap Concept
The Gap Concept, first defined by David Sklansky in his book “Tournament Poker for Advanced Players”, basically says that if you are thinking of entering a pre-flop pot that has already been opened by a bet from another player, you will need a stronger hand to call than you would need to open the pot yourself from the position you are sitting at. For example, if you hold A9 off-suit sitting in middle position and all players due to act before you fold their hands, you may consider A9 a minimum good enough hand to open the pot with. But if one of those players in early position opens the pot with a bet ahead of you, is your A9 still good enough to call? The answer is: No. The distance between the hand you need to call an opening bet and the minimum hand to open a pot yourself is called The Gap and its width depends on various other circumstances.

Continuation Bets
This is a play you will need in your standard repertoire, either to use it yourself or to retort when other players seem to be using it. It is a bet placed after the Flop by the pre-flop raiser based on the conditions that he has missed the Flop and none of the remaining players has bet in that round. The goal of the Continuation Bet is to indicate continued strengths making your opponents lay down their hands and pick up the pot right there. The size of the Continuation Bet should be about half the size of the pot, although you should vary your bets slightly around that figure to keep your opponents guessing. You can find more about this subject in Dan Harringtons excellent book “Expert Strategy for No-Limit Tournaments, Vol. II” alongside many other advanced concepts.

Probe Bets
The Probe bet is yet another concept described in Dan Harringtons “Expert Strategy for No-Limit Tournaments, Vol. II”. Heres a brief insight into this clever play to employ into your game.
A Probe Bet works similar to the Continuation Bet, but is made when the pre-flop raiser has not made a bet after the Flop came on the board. You can now bet about one-third of the pot size, which will either win the pot immediately for you or help you define you own and your opponents holding if he is calling or raising. In case he is calling dont put anymore money/chips into the pot unless you hit something strong; if he is raising then consider carefully whether to call or fold your hand.

The Zone System
This is a concept that only applies to No Limit Tournaments and is extensively explained in Dan Harringtons most recent book “Expert Strategy for No-Limit Tournaments, Vol. II”. Both Volumes of “Harrington On Holdem” are in our view the best books ever written about No Limit Holdem Tournament play.

The Zone System basically determines your playing strategies during a tournament and is defined by a figure called “M”. Your M is the amount of your chips divided by the sum of the current Blinds and Antes and reflects the amount of rounds you will be able to play with your current chip count. Heres an example: You are playing in a Multi-table tournament and have $6,000 in chips in front of you. The Blinds are $150/$300 with Antes of $25; there are 10 players at the table. $150 (SB)+$300 (BB)+$250 (10 Antes from each player) = $700. Your M is therefore 8.5 ($6,000/$700).

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http://www.online-poker-index.com/article-item-65Mon, 07 Sep 2009 12:22:13 +0000Poker ArticlesCommon Poker Myths That Can be Costing You MoneyMaybe it is because poker has become so popular that so many people believe so many myths about the game. From beginners to seasoned players, poker fans seem to eagerly believe many things that they are told about poker, whether those “facts” bear scrutiny or not.

The problem with many of the more common poker myths is that believing in them can cause players to lose a great deal of money. Below is a list of common poker myths. Take a look and see whether you are suffering from one of these misconceptions.

Poker Myth #1: Poker is about luck and about playing psychology to the hilt.
Yes, psychology has something to do with poker when you bluff or try to decide how well your card hand stacks up against the other cards at the table. In higher-stakes and professional games, psychology matters a lot. In many cases, though, winning at poker at the low and even mid-level games is simply about having the strongest hand of the players again and again. In many cases, this is simply accomplished by simple, learnable skills, such as learning to calculate pot odds.

Poker Myth #2: Good poker players bluff frequently.
Bluffing is maybe one of the most recognizable poker features and one of the features that makes poker different from other card games. In truth, though, bluffing can matter at high level games. In low-stakes games and limit games, it does not matter much because most if not almost all players at that level are willing to call a bet.

Poker Myth #3: Good players always win at poker.
Although poker is about skill to a large extent, luck is involved. Very good players can expect to win more often than they lose, but no player, no matter how great, wins all the time. Sometimes, bad hands simply happen. In other cases, a player successfully bluffs. Plus, some beginner players can get a great run of luck that lets them win against more seasoned players. It is part of the excitement of poker that no one really knows who will win - even in cases where very good players are matches with newcomers to the game at the same poker table.

Poker Myth #4: Tells are the ultimate clue to what a player is holding.
Tells can be useful, but psychology is tricky in the best of times. Sometimes, body language, facial expression and other traditional tells are simply tell the wrong story. In some cases, good players act their way through a game, providing fake tells to other players to keep their real reactions a secret.

Poker Myth #5: Good poker players are naturally good.
Some people will have you believe that all good poker players and all truly great poker players have been naturals all their life. However, poker is a learned skill to a large extent. No one is born knowing how to shuffle or bet. Every player goes through a learning process and every player can better his or her skill through practice and study.

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http://www.online-poker-index.com/article-item-64Fri, 13 Nov 2009 13:01:06 +0000Poker ArticlesPoker EtiquetteIn addition to rules and regulations, most games will have a particular etiquette associated with it. Poker is certainly no exception to this rule and there are a number of important points of etiquette which players should follow and there are even those that players must follow, unless of course they are looking for trouble.

The rules of etiquette of poker have been developed over the course of its history as a matter of necessity. At the end of the day, poker is a game revolving around betting and money. In some cases, players will find themselves involved in a pot in which they have a great deal of money invested. Without rules of etiquette, a friendly game of poker can quickly fall into chaos with fighting and worse.

The following are some simple points of etiquette that all players should be familiar with before participating in a game of poker:

* Do wait until its your turn. Folding, or raising or meeting a bet before your turn is like butting ahead in line.

* Dont get or give advice about card hands. Each person should play their own hand as well as they can. It is unfair to other players if you are getting advice about your own hand or giving advice to another player during a game. It is distracting, too.

* Do keep your chips neatly in front of you and put them into the pot tidily. Throwing your chips quickly into the center of the pot creates a mess and leads to arguments about how much you have contributed.

* Dont talk when someone else is deciding what to do with their hand. Keep commentary to a minimum. Poker is a game that requires concentration, and it is rude to distract other players with your talk, even if you think you are helping them with tips and strategies.

* Do pay attention to the rules and to the game. It is annoying to wait for a player who does not realize it is their turn and it is equally annoying to other players to constantly remind a player about the rules of the game.

* Dont be a sore loser. No one likes someone who brags or goes on and on about losing or winning. If you win, accept it with a smile. If you lose, dont start blaming the dealer or making unfounded accusations about cheating. Winning and losing with style makes everyone at the poker table feel better about the game.

* Do play in a timely way. You do not have to feel as though you are rushing your hand, but dont take forever to decide whether to bet or fold. Try to anticipate what you will do while other players are making their decisions so that you can keep the game moving forward.

* Dont race or grab. If you are playing in a home, dont grab cards out of the dealers hand or grab the pot before a winner is even announced. Its bad form. If you are playing in a casino, dont rush to the cashier or start making demands of the dealer immediately after a game just because you lost (or won) a pot. Take a minute, thank the dealer and the other players.

* Do speak only English at a poker table if the other players speak only English. Otherwise, it looks as though you are talking about the game behind everyone elses back. Talking to another player in a language no one else can understand is considered rude, as well.

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http://www.online-poker-index.com/article-item-63Tue, 20 Oct 2009 11:42:31 +0000Poker ArticlesPoker BulliesWe all know what bullies are – the big, intimidating people who delight in tormenting those younger or smaller than they are yet generally fold when confronted with someone bigger than they are or something they never really expected to meet or handle.

You can find bullies in every walk of life and, not surprisingly, you will also find them at the poker table. These people however, are not your typical bullies – they dont do it because they like doing it, they do it because theyve discovered a winning poker strategy.

These poker bullies characteristically intimidate and ‘terrorize the people they play with. Their main aim is to win by default – bluff until the others drop out. When he comes up with a milking hand, though, he suddenly doesnt know what to do. Or doesnt he, really?

Poker Bullies Strategy
A normal poker player plays according to popular poker wisdom: play aggressively when you have extremely good hands and give up when you have bad cards. Most of the time, a normal poker player should forgo speculative play when one has to wait awhile (and pay while doing it) to see if his mediocre cards could turn out favorably. If he does see fit to wait, he must slow down the game until he finds what hes looking for.

Poker bullies do not conform to above guidelines. As a rule, poker bullies want to maximize marginal hands by scaring everybody out of the game. They steal blinds right and left. Theyre so aggressive that they cause other players to tilt, or they scare the fish and tight players to fold. In this regard, they are your typical poker maniacs.

However, theyre unlike maniacs when they get the best possible card combination. Suddenly, they slow down the game. When theres a chance to check, they do. In other cases, they forgo raising and calls instead. In short, they play like someone holding unimpressive cards when, in fact, theyre just making their opponents contribute more money to a sure pot.

Unfortunately for you, poker bullies strategy usually works especially if they are playing with passive-tight players and novices.

Countering Poker Bullies
If you find yourself playing poker with a bully, you should not despair. At least, this player is fairly predictable so you have a pretty fair idea of how good his cards are. As a general rule, when hes playing it slow he is holding the nuts and when hes playing aggressively he has bad or mediocre cards.

As such, you should fold early when the bully starts slowplaying. Similarly, you should call his bluff when he plays aggressively. This type of counter-strategy may backfire though, when the bully actually shifts to normal poker strategy, slowplaying a drawing hand and aggressively betting with a strong one.

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http://www.online-poker-index.com/article-item-62Mon, 07 Dec 2009 10:29:59 +0000Poker ArticlesPoker Betting “Do’s” and “Don’ts”A big part of any poker game is betting money on a game. Playing with money in a poker game adds to the excitement of a game but also adds to the danger. It is possible for a new player to lose a lot of money on a poker game. For this reason, it is very important that you learn how to bet wisely in a poker game before you ever set money down on a poker table. The following simple dos and dont should help:

Dont start betting with money until you understand poker well. Begin with friendly games that involve no real money so that you can learn how to play well. The better you play the better the chances that you will not lose money when real money is involved.

Do only bet what you can afford. Sure, high rollers in Vegas may be able to ste down thousands or even millions of dollars on a game, but that does not apply to most people. Many poker players are tempted to put down a lot of money on the poker table because of the chance of winning big. However, you need to keep in mind that any money you wager is money that you can lose. Betting smart, then, means only betting amounts that you can afford to lose.

Dont make blind bets or bets on a tilt. You should never bet without a reason. Each time you bet or make a move in poker, it is important that you do so only after having carefully considered your hand and your odds of winning. Do not bet without understanding your hand and your chances and never bet emotionally. It is a sure way to win. Poker is really about strategy, not just luck.

Do play limit games when you are just beginning. Although no-limit games can often mean bigger winnings, it can also mean huge losses, especially for the less skilled players. If you are just learning to play poker, ease into the game with low-stakes limit games that have $1-2 wage limits. You will be happy you did.

Dont be afraid to fold. If you have no chance of creating a decent hand, it is better to lose a bot of money in the early stages of a game than to get into a betting challenge with a more experienced player and lose a lot of money.

Do bet sober. Alcohol is often a part of casual games, but if you have too much to drink, you are much more likely to make bad bets that cost you a lot of money. If you are drinking, walk away from the table until you sober up or stick to games that are not being played for real money.

Dont give your hand away through your gestures and your facial expressions. The whole point of poker is not to let other players know what cards you have. If you have weaker cards, you want to convince fellow players that you have a good hand so that they will fold. If you have a good hand, you dont want your fellow players to fold quickly, leaving you with smaller winnings, so learn to maintain that poker face.

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http://www.online-poker-index.com/article-item-61Wed, 04 Nov 2009 09:58:19 +0000Poker ArticlesPlaying The Flop In Limit Texas Hold’emTexas Holdem – especially Limit Holdem – is currently the most popular card game in the world –and perversely, the most “misleading” to novices and intermediate players. There is a misconception that the game is very simple – that one need only watch the pot to make his decisions. If it gets big enough, call and watch the cards roll out.

This is a recipe for disaster, especially for new or intermediate players who enter a game populated by seasoned players. There is a reason why inexperienced players have been called (rather unkindly) as either donkeys, muppets or fish – easy prey for the predators out there.

The Turning Point
One of the most overlooked areas in playing limit Holdem is the matter of flops. Many players know that the flop is important, since this is where you start building your winning hand and is usually the time where opponents start dropping out.

There are two crucial issues that must be resolved in flop play. First, it is of utmost importance to determine your hands strength in relation to the other players hands. Second, it is during flop play that you usually determine whether you will fold, call or raise.

Flop Play Checklist
How many players have survived the pre-flop betting? If you were thinking of pulling a bluff, and youre playing at a full table – reconsider your plan. Experienced players have commented that it is difficult to pull a bluff in such cases. SOMEONE will always take a shot at you – either because he has a better hand than you or out of sheer bloody-mindedness.

During pre-flop play, monitor the other players carefully. Mark the positions of those whove raised pre-flop and anticipate follow-up actions from them. Consider their actions carefully – raising pre-flop may be an indication of good hole cards or the start of a bluff.

What position do you have? If youre in a late position, consider yourself lucky. You can watch the game unfold and plan your moves accordingly. Landing in an earlier position only means you need to work extra hard.

Study the cards on the board. Remember, this is where you will be making your hand – and, conversely, where the other players will be looking to make THEIRS. It would be immensely important for you to determine what combination your cards can form as well as to consider what the others can conceivably form with their cards.

Check the pot odds carefully. This is an essential element in your calculations for youll be bale to tell if winning the pot is worth the cost.

Limit Holdem is NOT the mechanical card game that many people think it is. Behind every successful game is a large dose of strategy and mathematics, which makes the game one of skill.

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http://www.online-poker-index.com/article-item-60Wed, 30 Dec 2009 09:47:10 +0000Poker ArticlesPlaying Small Pairs in No Limit Texas Hold’emOne type of hand you might find yourself holding in No Limit Hold`em is a small pair. Small pairs, those below 8-8, are not the most profitable to play in No Limit Hold`em. You generally only want to play these hands in late position, and not for any kind of substantial raise.

Truth be told, players should only roll with a small pair if they feel that their opponents are bluffing or if they think that a bluff on their part will cause their opponent to fold. At the end of the day, under most circumstances, small pairs should be folded in the face of a bet and most certainly in the event of a raise.Hit Them Hard and Go for the Kill
Your only goal with a small pair is to flop a set (a card on the board matching your pair to give you three of a kind). A good rule to follow is the maxim “no set, no bet” meaning if you dont hit your set on the flop and someone bets, you are done with the hand. If you do flop your set, you should by no means slow play. You should almost always bet your hand in this situation. Your opponents will not put you on a set since it is mathematically unlikely for you to have one, therefore if they have made top pair or a strong draw they will probably call you. Furthermore, as good as your hand is, if someone makes a straight or a flush they will still beat you. You need to get enough money in the pot early so that if they get close to making a hand that can beat you, you can bet them out of the hand and still win a nice pot.

With No Hit You've had Your Chips
Very rarely do you want to put any money in if you miss your set. If your opponents all check to you, you might consider throwing in a bet to win the pot right there. If it is checked all the way to the river and someone makes a bet on the river, you need to consider if they are trying to steal. Only if you are reasonably certain they are should you call with your small pair. It is highly possible that there will be five over cards to your pair once all the cards are out, and everyone who played the hand will need only match one of them to beat you.

Another time you can stick around is if your small pair gives you a good straight possibility, for example, you have 5, 5 and the flop comes 4, 6, 7, or you have 4, 4 and the flop is 3, 5, 6. Whats nice about this situation is that if the straight comes, you are likely to get paid off by over pairs or top pair since there are not many holdings with a 5 or a 4 in them that are profitable to play, and it will be hard for people to put you on the straight.

A Modest Holding After All
It is important to remember that small pairs are not very good in No Limit Hold`em . Even if you get your hand heads up, you are rarely a big favorite over any hand, and are a big underdog to a good number of hands. Treat this as a late position drawing hand, and dont waste too much money chasing it.

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http://www.online-poker-index.com/article-item-59Tue, 05 Jan 2010 09:26:38 +0000Poker ArticlesTips For Playing OmahaOmaha Holdem is a game that has been gaining popularity. If your local poker game hasnt yet tried Omaha, then chances are that you will try this exciting poker game soon. In Omaha poker, players are dealt hole cards face down and community cards are dealt face up in the middle of the poker table. Players need to create the best hand possible using two of their hole cards and three community cards. The player with the highest hand wins. There is usually a three raise limit per Omaha game, although exact rules can vary from game to game. The dealer will usually announce the exact rules before beginning a game.

Omaha is an exciting game to play, since the community cards let you make educated guesses about the hands other players are holding. On the other hand, since players use of their cards and any three community cards, the various combinations of hands can be quite large and guessing which player has what hand can be complicated. If you want to improve your Omaha game, experts recommend that you follow a few simple tips:

Play the best hands possible. In Omaha, pairs do not win very often. In this game, the best hand often does win, so you should try for a straight, flush, or full house to start really betting. New players will often bet on weaker hands, but if you are playing with a few players and have a pair, then dont play the hand. Wait for something better.

Study your fellow players. Look out for players who are low on chips and start betting aggressively. They may be looking to use all their chips on a last hand, even when that hand is weaker.

Dont be afraid to fold. In Omaha, if you have trips or quads (except for all aces) you should fold. You simply do not have a strong enough hand. You need high cards or high and medium suited pairs (such as an ace and king in hearts or a ten and nine in diamonds) in order to even think about playing, because with all the card combinations on the table there is a good hand that some other player will have a hand that beats yours. Low pairs will not usually help you in Omaha the way they might in 5-card draw poker.

Stay alert for the nuts. The “nuts” are the highest possible hands. Looking at the community cards before each card is dealt, make sure that you understand what the highest possible hand out there is. Always understand how well your own hand stands up against the “nuts.” If you are playing with several people, especially, chances are that someone out there has the “nuts” or something close to it, and in Omaha that is the hand most likely to win.

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http://www.online-poker-index.com/article-item-58Mon, 28 Dec 2009 09:12:18 +0000Poker ArticlesCommon Poker TermsAs with any game, poker has developed its own very unique vocabulary. If you are interested in playing poker, certainly at the casino, then it is important to have a certain command of the various poker terms and slang.

The game of poker is a game of incredible action and color. Poker seems to attract an extremely colorful range of characters. With colorful characters comes colorful language and poker has no shortage of colorful language.

The following is a small list of some basic poker terms to help you get started on your way:

Cards higher/lower than the board: This term refers to the value of the cards you hold in a poker game where some cards are dealt face up. If you hold a king, for example, in your hand that no one can see and the highest card face up on the poker table is a nine, then your card is higher than the board.

High Cards: Which cards are considered high can change from game to game, but in general anything from a ten up through an Ace is considered high.

Hole Cards: These refer to the cards that are dealt to a person in a poker game where there are community cards. In some poker games, these types of cards can also be referred to as “pocket cards” or “personal” cards. In poker, the idea is to use your hole cards with the cards dealt face up on the table to create the best possible five card hand for yourself.

Low Cards: Again, what is considered a low card will depend on the game and the type of poker being played. In general, though, anything from a deuce to a nine can be considered low.

Door Card: The cards dealt face up in a starting hand, especially in a game of stud.

Live Cards: Cards that have not been dealt face up on the poker table and so are still possible to get.

Dead Cards: Cards that have been dealt in the poker game and so are no longer in the deck, available to you.

The “nuts”: The “nuts” in a poker game is the highest hand a player can achieve with respect to the community cards. It is also sometimes referred to as the “lock.”

Fast Play: In this type of aggressive poker play, you raise and raise as much as possible, usually to pressure other players out of the game by convincing them that you have a strong hand.

Scoop: Getting the entire pot in a hi-low game. You can scoop the pot (and so avoid sharing the winnings) by winning with a high hand where there is no low hand.

Slow Play: In this less aggressive poker play, you are just meeting bets rather than raising. Poker players slow play to avoid investing too much money in a hand they have no confidence in. Slow play also encourages players to stay in the game and so increases the pot odds - and the pot, if you have a high hand you expect to win.

Community Cards: These are the cards that are dealt face-up in the center of the poker table. Every player can use these cards with the cards in their hands to build a five card hand.

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http://www.online-poker-index.com/article-item-57Sun, 18 Dec 2011 11:53:53 +0000Poker ArticlesManaging Your Poker Bankroll“Bankroll” is the term used to describe the total amount of money that a player sets aside for the purposes of playing poker. Players should only use a certain proportion of their bankroll whenever playing, thus a players bankroll will determine the betting limits of the games in which they participate. The ultimate goal of any player is to build their bankroll slowly and steadily increase the limits of the games that they participate in.

Ones bankroll can easily deflate very quickly after a few large losses. Managing you money in poker is a very important skill. Luckily, to manage your poker bankroll, you only need to do a follow a few basic guidelines:

• Decide on your bankroll first. Decide how much money you can afford to lose each game. Then, depending on how often you play, decide how much bankroll you have per game. For example, if you have one hundred dollars to spend on poker each month, then you may be able to play four games that cost $25 or one medium-stakes game that requires all $100.

• When calculating your bankroll, realize that its often best to have at least 20 times the cost of one game before starting play. If you are playing a low stakes and limit game in which a game costs about three dollars, you should arrive at the table with at least sixty dollars. If you dont any loss could wipe out your entire nights bankroll, leaving you with nothing to do on poker night. Some experts recommend bringing 50 times the cost of one game to the table each time.

• When calculating your bankroll, dont forget to budget for poker supplies and incidental poker expenses. Transportation to poker games, fees to enter tournaments, costs of lessons and poker books, cost of food during games and other expenses can add up over several poker nights. Subtract these expenses from your total bankroll to make sure that you know exactly how much money you can be betting each month.

• Based on the size of your bankroll, decide which sort of poker you can afford. If you have a limited bankroll, then you will likely need to play low-stakes and limit games or games with a pot limit to ensure that you dont lose all your money at once.

• Be sure to consider all the ways you play poker when you decide on your bankroll and how to divvy it up. For example, if you play online poker, poker at a regular poker night, and poker slots, you will want to divide your poker bankroll among all these forms of play to make sure that you have enough for each.

• Keep track of your total and your bankroll. This is crucial. In a notebook or using a computer program, keep track of your bankroll. Begin with your bankroll for each game and not how much money you bring back or lose after each game. Tally up your total losses and wins weekly, monthly, and yearly. This lets you see how much you are spending and winning. If you win extra money, you will be able to see how much you can spend each month. For example, if you have a good month and win thirty dollars, you can add thirty dollars to next month;s or next weeks bankroll. If you enter a week or month with losses, you may need to wait a week or month before your new bankroll amount (from your disposable income) can be used.